In a whirlwind of rumors and excitement, baseball fans were led to believe that Shohei Ohtani, the highly-touted free agent, was heading to Toronto to meet with the Blue Jays. However, it turned out to be a false alarm.
Speculation began when MLB Network reported that Ohtani’s decision on his next team was “imminent” and could be known on Friday. This news quickly spread, with social media buzzing about the possibility of Ohtani joining the Blue Jays.
The excitement reached its peak when a viral post on X claimed that Blue Jays’ Japanese pitcher Yusei Kikuchi had made reservations for 50 people at a Toronto sushi spot. Additionally, Reddit users discovered that a plane from Ohtani’s previous team, the Los Angeles Angels, was en route to Toronto.
Thousands of fans eagerly searched for the flight online, anticipating Ohtani’s arrival in the afternoon. MLB Network reporter Jon Morosi even stated that sources had informed him of Ohtani’s journey to Toronto. The anticipation grew when rumors circulated about a 6 p.m. press conference by the Blue Jays.
However, the excitement quickly died down when USA Today and The New York Post reported that Ohtani was not in Toronto. It was confirmed that he was at home in southern California. CBC, which had a photographer at Toronto’s Pearson Airport, revealed that the viral flight was actually for Canadian businessman Robert Herjavec and his family.
Despite the false alarm, Ohtani remains one of the most highly sought-after free agents in MLB. His exceptional performance both at the plate and on the mound has made him a standout player. In 2023, he led the league with a .654 slugging percentage, 1.066 OPS, and 44 home runs. He also had a 3.14 ERA and 167 strikeouts in 132 innings pitched.
While the speculation and excitement surrounding Ohtani’s potential move to the Blue Jays turned out to be unfounded, baseball fans are still eagerly waiting to see where he will play in the future.
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